Science skills are foundational to our society, from developing solutions for the global pandemic, the climate crisis, food shortages, space exploration, and more. However, many students - and even many teachers- do not think of themselves as scientists. The design of the science curriculum can ensure that every student has the opportunity to engage in meaningful, rigorous science content.
This course has been created to share strategies and approaches for educators from K-12 to design for students to think and act like scientists. In this course, we will explore how to support scientific discourse, to use models to support the development of robust understandings of complex science concepts, to infuse assessments that are aligned to standards and to develop expert learning, and to integrate standards, such as the Next Generation Science Standards in lesson design.
We recognize there are barriers that challenge students to engage in science learning. In this course, we will provide opportunities to take a deep look at your science content and curriculum. We will integrate frameworks such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) to provide rich learning opportunities for all students.
Throughout this course, we will explore the five core practices for developing inclusive science classrooms:
Engage students in anchoring problems
Make thinking visible
Elicit student discourse
Infuse flexible design
Allison Posey is an international leader in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). She works at CAST as a Senior Content Editor and Producer and collaborates with researchers and educators to integrate and apply current understandings from brain research into instructional practices. Prior to coming to CAST, Allison was a life science teacher in middle-high school classrooms and community and college settings. She received a degree in Mind, Brain, and Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and is the author of Engage the Brain: How to design for learning that taps into the power of emotions (ASCD, 2018) and Unlearning: Change your beliefs and practice with UDL (CAST Publishing, 2020).
There are no prerequisites or required texts for this course. All materials are linked freely within the modules.
We recommend the following books as resources for the course:
Our standard and group pricing covers your course registration with Novak Educational Consulting, Inc. only. You may also choose to purchase graduate credits and/or clock hours (for Washington State teachers) at the time of registration. For questions regarding pricing or to request a purchase order, contact us.
You will receive a completion certificate from Novak Education at the conclusion of the course. Please check in with your school or district to determine if this alone will be sufficient for salary points or advancement. Some states require additional proof of completion such as clock hours, contact hours, or credits. Graduate credits (3 continuing education credits) may be obtained through our accredited university partners. Learn more about our graduate partners: Gordon College and Teachers College of San Joaquin.
Copyright © 2020, Novak Educational Consulting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
